In a healthy eye, the proteins and water that make up the natural lens allow light to pass through without obstruction. As we age, those proteins can clump together, causing our vision to become cloudy. Cataracts will worsen over time and may lead to progressive visual loss.
The lens within the eye clouds naturally as we age, causing a gradual reduction of vision. Other factors that can progress cataracts more quickly include:
Cataracts will continue to progress with no apparent pain, although patients may experience some of the following symptoms:
To be certain that you may be a candidate for cataract surgery, the specialists at Eye Care Unlimited perform a cataract evaluation. The eye care team also examines your medical history to learn about any medications, illnesses, prior surgeries, or family history of eye disease.
In addition to looking carefully at your eyes and health history, expect the optometrist to perform a series of tests. Some of these might include:
Cataracts can sometimes be treated with non-surgical methods such as:
However, if cataracts begin to interfere with reading ability, work, or other daily activities, cataract surgery may be recommended. Cataract surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that usually takes only a few minutes to perform and is painless for most patients.
Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful procedures available, and over 2 million corrective surgeries are performed annually. The surgery includes:
There are several IOLs available to patients during cataract surgery. Multifocal IOLs allow for full vision correction at near, intermediate, and far distances, decreasing dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses in most patients.